Apparatus for forming continuous plastic curls



Feb. 18, 1964 H. FLEISHER 3,

APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS PLAS TIC CURLS Filed Dec. 19, 1961INVENTOR. weer FZE/j/lf? WMZQ QTTOEN United States Patent 3,121,256APPARATUS FGR FGRMING CONTINUOUS PLASTIC UURLS Harry Fleisher, New York,N.Y., msignor to William Resinol, Yonkers, N .Y. Filed Dec. 19, 1961,Ser. No. 160,524 9 Claims. ((11. 18-19) The present invention relates toapparatus for automatically coiling threads or filaments ofthermoplastic material into continuous coils, such as used for theartificial curls of dolls hair.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for thepurpose described which will curl the filamentary material into close,even coils at a continuous, high production rate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus, ofthe character described, which will form filamentary curls Whose coilsare substantially regularly and evenly spaced, so as to avoid thetangling of the coils due to their overlapping.

It is still another object of the present invention to provideapparatus, of the character described, which is of relatively simple andsturdy construction, embodying a minimum number of parts, that may beproduced and assembled at relatively low cost and will be capable ofoperating continuously with a minimum of attention, care and repair.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the plastic filamentcoiling apparatus of the present invention will become more readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shownin the accompanying drawings and from the description following. It isto be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way ofillustration only, to make the principles and practice of the inventionmore readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting theinvention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodirnent of a filament coilingapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional, partly elevational View of theapparatus of FIG. 1, substantially as taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the front end of the apparatus with thecoil-receiving means omitted; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the coiling head of themachine, partly broken away, and in section, to clarify structuraldetails; and

*FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a modified embodiment ofthe apparatus of the invention.

Generally stated, the present invention consists in the provision ofapparatus for winding a thermoplastic filament about an arbor havingmeans associated with the winding mechanism of the apparatus forengaging the windings of the filament to space them and to positivelyadvance them on the arbor. More specifically stated, the inventionntilizesa helical member, rotatable with the main driving shaft of theapparatus, which is arranged to overlap a stationary winding receivingarbor, and will engage individual windings and advance them along thearbor.

Referring now, in greater detail, to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, the same isshown to consist, in the main, of a cylindrical rotary shaft 18, throughthe axial passage 12, of which a thread or filament 14, of a syntheticplastic material is fed to a radially-extending tubular guide or winder16, which is connected with the passageway 14 at an easy angle and whichlays a thread or filament around a stationary arbor, generallydesignated as 18, and between the convolutions or helical grooves of aWinding advancing member or screw 20, that overlaps the windingreceiving end of the arbor 18 and rotates with the shaft 10 in adirection away from the shaft 10.

By this arrangement, the windings of the filament 14 are simultaneouslycoiled about the arbor 18, which, preferably, tapers in the directionaway from the winder 16 and over the convolutions or grooves of thehelix 20, which regulates the spacing of the windings from one anotherand also advances them along the arbor 18 to a holder 22, which mayconsist of a rod having a threaded offset end portion 24-, that isscrewed into :1 correspondingly threaded recess formed in the end of thearbor '18, so that the holder rod 22 constitutes a separable extensionfor the arbor 18.

A conduit 26, for dry heat, such as steam, is associated with theapparatus in a manner to have its outlet end arranged to discharge thesteam against the windings immediately as they emerge from the windingtube 16 to soften the filament, the windings being cooled and set incoiled form as they are advanced outwardly along the arbor 1-8.

The shaft 10, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, is journalled inspaced bearings 28, disposed within a housing 30, and carries, at oneend, a drive pulley 32, and, at the other end, a cup-like guard 34,which extends about the Winding tube 16. The guard 34 may carry acounterweight 36, to balance the winder tube 16, as illustrated in FIG.3 of the drawings, so as to enable the smooth operation of the apparatusat high speed. The shaft 10 is for-med with a reduced portion 38, at itsother end, which extends into and may project beyond the guard cup 34.

The winding advancing helix 2G is shown to comprise a helically-coiled,spirally-formed wire, with an open end which is secured by its other endto the flat head 40, of a threaded stud 42, that is screwed into thethreaded recess formed in the end face of the reduced shaft portion 38.

The arbor 18 is shown as being of one preferred form, having a somewhattapered outer end and a forked inner end consisting of a first,relatively wider arm 44-, to the end of which is secured a cylindricalhub or sleeve 46, by which the arbor is hung or floated in relativelystationary relation, on the reduced end 38 of the shaft 10. The forkedend of the arbor 18 is also provided with the relatively thin andrelatively shorter second arm 48, which is of a thiclmess less than thediameter of the helix 2% and whose end fits into the open end of thehelix 29, so that the helix 26 rotates about the arm 48 and in the spacebetween it and the arm 44.

The sleeve 46 is supported in stationary relation on the reduced end 38of the shaft 10 by being secured, as by a set screw 51), over anintermediate sleeve 52, which is, in turn, fitted over and secured, asby a screw 54, on a bearing sleeve 58, which rides freely on the reducedend 38 of the shaft 1%. The bearing sleeve 53 is inhibited againstinward movement by the shoulder 60, defining the inner end of thereduced shaft portion 38 and against outward movement by the head 40 ofthe threaded stud 42 that mounts the helix 20 and is of a size tooverlap and form an abutment for the outer end of the bearing sleeve 48.Thus, the arbor 18, while supported and held on the reduced shaftsection 38, is not fixed thereon, and does not rotate therewith, andpermits the helix 2% to rotate about its arm 48.

The sleeve 46 connected to the arbor arm 44 may be formed with aninwardly-extending flange 64, that fits closely about the inner end ofthe helix 20, to avoid the snagging of filament windings on the innerend of the helix 20.

In the embodiment of the apparatus of the invention illustrated in FIG.5 of the drawings, the filament-advancing means and the arbor structureare of modified character. In this embodiment the filament-advancingmeans comprises a helically-grooved pin or screw 78, which may beconnected to the reduced shaft end 38 of the apparatus, in substantiallythe same or similar manner as the spiral 2b in FIGS. 1 to 4; namely, bybeing secured to or formed integrally with a head 4% of a stud 42. thatis set into the end of the shaft portion 38, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The arbor of PEG. 5, generally designated as 118, is likewise formedwith a forked end which consists, however, of a pair of spaced parallelarms 72, each of a thickness less than the diameter of the groove pin70, and each secured by its end to the flange 64 of the arborsupportingsleeve 46 in position to have the groove pin '70 extend between the arms72 when the sleeve 46 is mounted over the shaft portion 38, as in themanner shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The unitary end portion of the arbor 118 may taper toward its free endand is preferably formed, in a manner similar to arbor 18 of FIGS. 1 to4, with an axiallyextending threaded recess in its free end, to receivethe threaded end of the curl-receiving rod 2 2.

It will be apparent that the foregoing constructions each provides acompact, small-sized unit which is balanced so that it may be operatedat high speed, to form continuous filamentary coil windings of uniformsize and shape.

It will also be apparent that not only will the apparatus of the presentinvention form coils with windings of even size and shape, but that theengaging of the successive filament windings between the convolutions ofthe filament-advancing helix tends to keep the windings of the coils inregularly spaced relation without overlapping or entangling.

It will likewise be apparent that the forward movement of the windingsby the convolutions of the helix, to positively advance such windings,permits the smooth and relatively rapid operation of the apparatus.

It will be further apparent that the apparatus of the present inventionis of compact, small and sturdy construction, economical to produce,economical to operate, and will require little care and attention duringoperation, and will operate continuously and steadily with a minimum ofadjustment and repairs.

It will be still further apparent that numerous modifications andvariations in the thermoplastic filament coiling apparatus of thepresent invention may be made by anyone skilled in the art, inaccordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth,and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire,therefore, to be protected for any and all such modifications andvariations that may be made within the spirit of the invention and scopeof the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for continuously coiling filamentary material comprisingthe combination of a rotary shaft, a thread serving guide carried bysaid shaft, an open ended screw carried by said shaft in position toengage the thread served by said guide and a stationary arbor having aninner arm projecting into the open end of said screw and an outer armprojecting over the outside of said screw.

2. Apparatus for continuously coiling filamentary material comprisingthe combination of a rotary shaft, 8.

4.- thread serving guide carried by said shaft, an open ended screwcarried by said shaft in position to engage the thread served by saidguide and a stationary arbor having an inner arm ro ectin into the 0 enend of said screw.

and an outer arm projecting over the outside of said screw, said outerarm being connected with and carried by a sleeve having a rotarymounting over the end of said shaft.

3. Apparatus for continuously coiling filamentary material comprisingthe combination of a rotary shaft, a thread serving guide carried bysaid shaft, an open ended screw carried by said shaft in position toengage the thread served by said guide and a stationary arbor having aninner arm projecting into the open end of said screw and an outer armprojecting over the outside of said screw, said open ended screw havinga screw stud at the inner end of the same entered in the end of saidrotary shaft.

4. Apparatus for forming continuous coils of filamentary plasticmaterial, comprising the combination of a rotary shaft, a thread-servingguide carried by said shaft and rotating therewith, a relativelystationary wind-' lug-receiving arbor adjacent said shaft in position toreceive filament windings from said thread-serving guide, means,including a helix, rotatable with said shaft over-' lapping thewinding-receiving end of said arbor and engaging individual of filamentwindings as they are formed on said arbor to advance the same along saidarbor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said arbor is formed with a forkedinner end and a sleeve is connected to said inner end of said arbor, abearing sleeve is freely mounted over an end of said shaft and saidarbor sleeve is fitted over and secured to said bearing sleeve.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said shaft is formed with a reducedend portion and said means rotatable with said shaft is secured to theend of said reduced shaft portion and said arbor is formed with a forkedinner end having a sleeve secured thereto, said reduced shaft end havinga bearing sleeve mounted thereover, and said arbor sleeve secured oversaid bearing sleeve, with the forked arbor end overlapping saidrotatable means.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said helix comprises a wire coil. 7

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means rotatable with saidshaft comprises a helically-grooved pin set into the end of said shaft,and wherein said windingreceiving arbor comprises a sleeve freelysupported on said shaft, said sleeve having an opening wherethrough saidhelically-grooved pin projects, and having an arbor connected thereto,said arbor having a forked end, comprising spaced parallel arms, saidarms each secured to said sleeve and each of a thickness less than thediameter of said helically-grooved pin.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the free end portion of said arboris formed with an axially-extending recess adapted to receive the end ofa winding-receiving rod therein.

References fited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSTyrrell et a1. Feb. 17, 1885

2. APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY COILING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL COMPRISINGTHE COMBINATION OF A ROTARY SHAFT, A THREAD SERVING GUIDE CARRIED BYSAID SHAFT, AN OPEN ENDED SCREW CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT IN POSITION TOENGAGE THE THREAD SERVED BY SAID GUIDE AND A STATIONARY ARBOR HAVING ANINNER ARM PROJECTING INTO THE OPEN END OF SAID SCREW AND AN OUTER ARMPROJECTING OVER THE OUTSIDE OF SAID SCREW, SAID OUTER ARM BEINGCONNECTED WITH AND CARRIED BY A SLEEVE HAVING A ROTARY MOUNTING OVER THEEND OF SAID SHAFT.